Winds of Nightsong. V. J. Banis

when you were here in London with your mother. Adam will remember you, and you can introduce me so he’ll know I’m not some wild woman who came upon him out of the blue.”

      “Like his real mother,” Marcus remarked, almost to himself.

      Amelia frowned. “April is much improved, Marcus. She’s still a bit dreamy at times, but Lydia says she isn’t half as bad as she was. I think Adam had a lot to do with that. She knows now that he’s alive, and that has helped her mental state considerably.”

      “But April thought Adam was her husband when he came to San Francisco.”

      Amelia shrugged. “Only because Adam looks so much like David. Lydia said there were times when she knew who Adam really was. I spoke with April when I was at your house. She seemed quite rational and very pleasant, though she was rather obsessed with the idea of returning to China. She spoke of nothing else.”

      “She’s still mad as a hatter,” Marcus said.

      He thought for a moment, then asked, “Won’t Mother’s threats to Lorna expose Adam for who he is? That kind of scandal would be certain to reach England and then Adam would have to kiss the Clarendon title good-bye.”

      “I don’t think Lorna will let any of it reach the public. She did, after all, arrange for Adam’s kidnapping, which is a criminal offense.”

      “If you ask me, I think they’re all crazy.”

      She frowned at him. “You are so changed, Marcus,” Amelia scolded. “I almost don’t know you.”

      He squeezed her hand. “I’m just tired, I guess. All this has come as quite a surprise. I had intended being in Le Mans this weekend for the motorcar races. I guess I’m a little disappointed that I won’t be able to take you there.”

      “You still have your heart set on racing motorcars, I see.”

      “Of course.”

      It surprised him when she laughed, then kissed his cheek. “Well, at least that hasn’t changed.”

      “I thought you disapproved.”

      “Not really. I’m frightened out of my mind that you might hurt yourself, but I find the noise and the speed very exciting.”

      “You do?”

      “I’d so like to go to Le Mans with you, but I don’t see how we can. I want to get back home as soon as possible.”

      “I understand.” A sudden fright grabbed him. “I’m not expected to go home with you, am I?”

      “Would that displease you?” she asked, looking hurt. “I thought perhaps you’d want to come home with me.”

      “It isn’t that, Amelia. It’s just that there is so much that has to be done with the family’s business in Paris,” he lied.

      “You don’t have to return home with me,” she said flatly. “Just introduce me to Adam, and I’ll take it from there. You can go back to your beloved Paris whenever you wish,” she finished angrily.

      “Amelia,” he pleaded, knowing he’d offended her.

      “It’s all right, Marcus. I really did think you’d be a little bit pleased to see me. But obviously you aren’t.”

      “I am pleased to see you,” he said heatedly. He tried to take her in his arms, but she stiffened and eased away.

      “I find that hard to believe.”

      “Come to bed with me and I’ll prove it to you,” he said boldly.

      She wanted that more than anything in the world, but something deep down inside her would not permit it. “You know I can’t.”

      “Why not?” He pressed closer. “We’re engaged, aren’t we? What’s the difference if we do it now or later?”

      The nearness of his body, the sweetness of his breath on her cheek were making her weak with desire. “I can’t, Marcus. I just can’t,” she found herself saying.

      He slumped in his seat. He suddenly felt like going back to Paris to Madame Claire’s and Denise. There, things were so much less complicated and he could be himself.